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Snaproll's Spice Guide (long)
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Snaproll
SWG Petty Officer
Posts: 172
Registered: 08-19-2003


PA: The Echelon
Server: Lowca

29 ratings - 4.5 average


Introduction
Hi everyone!  In the past week or so I have been doing a lot of work with spices in my attempts to make, use, and sell them, and I have found that there is a general lack of understanding about spices and how they can help you (and hurt you).  Seems some people had a bad experience with a downer and vowed never to use them again, and some just don't want to "do drugs".  This guide will hopefully help you all understand what the role of spices really is and help you decide which spice is best for your needs.

Spice Basics
Spices are portable buffs that can be used on demand.  Each different spice will enhance certain stats (anywhere from 1 to 6) for a specific time,  followed by a 2 minute downer period.  You may only take one spice at a time.  Spices are created by smugglers.

Effects of Spice
Each spice has a list of attributes that are enhanced and a duration.  For example, say you have a spice that increases health by +100 for 400 seconds.  When you take the spice, your current and maximum health both increase by 100 points,  and will remain that way for 400 seconds.

The Downer
After the spice has run its course, the downer kicks in.  The effect of this is to REDUCE the stat that was buffed by the same amount that it was increased.  So, in the last example,  your maximum and current health will decrease by 100.  All downers last for 2 minutes.  Right now, if the downer kicks in and you fall to negative in one of your 3 HAM pools, you will be incapacitated.  This may be a bug and might be fixed someday.  The most important thing - strong spice = bad downer.

So why use spice?
Now that we have the technical details out of the way, the question remains, ,what good are they really? First of all, they are portable, on demand buffs.  No doctor or dancer is needed to buff you and they can be taken before important battles or used in emergencies.  Also, they stack with the other types of buffs.

Secondly, spices are the most direct way to effect the all-important mind pool during combat.  A few of the spices have a +mind effect, and can act as the elusive mind stimpack in emergencies.  Several spices have bonuses to focus and willpower, and can drastically increase the effectiveness of mind using classes like riflemen, medics, and even squad leaders.

The problem, however, is the downer.  Because of this, spices must be used with much more care than other buffs.  You need to think about the downer and how it will effect you - indeed lack of downer preparation is the primary reason many people have been turned off from spices.  Basically, extended group hunts with lots of constant fighting are not ideal situations for a powerful spice like Neutron Pixie, because you will likely be incapacitated by the downer at a bad time.  Spices become much more useful in situation when you can control the time of the battle and be somewhere safe for the downer.  For example:  right before you are about to solo a group of Dark Troopers surrounded by several other stormtroopers. (Sound familiar?)  By the time you finish the mission, run back to Coronet to pick up another, and get out to your next mission, the downer should have worn off and you can be ready to pop another.  Other examples of when to use a spice: before attacking the deranged AT-ST at the end of the Warren.  Before PvP battles.  The final room of the nightsister cave.  The list is endless.

You can, however, still use spice in long hunts.  The problem is that most people only know about and use Neutron Pixie and Muon Gold, both which have large primary HAM effects and are the WORST for causing yourself to be incapped.  Some of the other spices can be used repeatedly without major side effects.  More on this later.

Durations
One of the things to keep in mind with spice is the duration.  Spice durations range from 400 seconds to 800 seconds, although most last 600 seconds (10 minutes).  Keep this in mind - if you are running those darktrooper missions and your pixie downer kicks in right when you are ready to start a mission, maybe use a shorter duration spice so the downer hits while you are in coronet.  In general, though, the longer the duration the better.

Secondary Stat Spice Usage
I hope to really open some eyes on how some of the spices other than Muon Gold or Neutron Pixie can be used.  Remeber that the downer only effects the stats that are initially effected by the spice itself.  Therefore, if your spice only effects secondary stats, you will NEVER be incapped by the spice directly.  It also doesn't lower your HAM pools at all, so you will never take a whole bunch of "damage" when the downer kicks in.  This is key - if the spice you are using only effects focus, for instance, just don't use any mind specials during the downer, and spam them like crazy during the upper.  Effective, isn't it??  Most people have had bad experiences with spice because the 1000 health or 500 mind damage they take when the downer kicks in flattens them.  Muon and Neutron aren't the only spices around.

A note on Doctor Buffs
Doctor Buffs are better than spices.  Get them if you can.  If you aren't a doc yourself, though, spices are much easier to find and use, and remember they stack. 

Spice List
Ok, now that that is all out of the way, I am going to list all the spices and thier effects, along with some comments on how they are best used.  There are 15 types of spice - 3 are granted to the smuggler at each level of spicing plus 3 at novice smuggler.  The level of spice doesn't have much to do with how good it is - some of the best are level 0 while some of the worst are level 2 or 3.

Level 0 Spices - Novice Smuggler
Grey Gabaki - +500 focus, 500 seconds
This is a great spice.  This is the one that will let you spam mind specials at will, as long as you avoid them during the downer.  You can use these all throughout an extended hunt do vastly increase your effectiveness and you never take a reduction in any HAM pool.  If you are a riflemen, buy some.

Scramjet - +300 strength, 700 seconds
Another decent spice. If you spam health specials a lot this is a good spice to use for extended hunt situations for the same reasons as outlined in Grey Gabaki, above.  Long duration.  No incap on the downer.  highly recommended.

Shadowpaw - -100 strength, +250 action, +250 quickness, 600s
An action spice - almost identical to Giggledust (below) but with a strength hit.  An ok spice if you use action specials (pistoleers).  Special importance to the smuggler as it is the best grinding spice.

Level 1 spices - Naturals

Giggledust - +300 action, +300 quickness, -100 focus, 600s
Another decent action spice - can be used instead of Shadowpaw if you would rather take a focus hit than a strength hit.

Sweetblossum - +100 health, +600 constitution, -100 action, -100 quickness, -200 focus, 600s
A powerful constitution spice with several side effects.  If you need to regenerate your health a lot, then use this one.  It may be useful for reducing downtime on longer hunts if you try not to get hit much during the downer.

Yarrock - +200 mind, +100 focus, +100 willpower, 600s
Mini-Muon.  Provides a helpful boost to the mind stats.  Because it's a mind spice it's automatically important, and may be good for mind using classes that don't want to take the much bigger Muon Gold.

Level 2 Spices - Meds

Pyrepenol - +300 strength, -100 quickness, -50  focus, 600s
Another good one for spamming health specials and avoiding "damage" when the downer hits.  I have no idea why someone would use this while scramjet exists.

Sedative h4B - +400 health,  +300 consitution, -100 mind, -100 focus, 600s
Another health one, focusing on regeneration.  Might be good for reducing downtime if you've got no medics.  Be ready for the 400 health downer. 

Zyopolene Droid Lubricant - +250 health, +250 strength, +250 constitution, 600s
Another health based spice, affecting all three health stats.

Level 3 Spices - Stims

Crash and Burn - -200 action, -200 quick, +400 mind, +200 focus, 600s
Another mind one with side effects.  I don't think this one is all that good - there are better mind spices out there.

Gunjack - +500 strength, -200 quickness,  -100 focus, 600s
The strongest strength spice out there, very useful for those who use lots of health specials, and no "damage" on the downer.  Good spice.  Also rare because it requires an artisan component - this is the only spice a smuggler can't make alone (I've got some though)

Thrusterhead - +600 mind, +200 focus,  400s
This spice gives the biggest mind boost of them all, 600 points.  This makes it the best "emergency mind stim" in the game.  just be ready for the 600 point mind hit you will take when the downer hits, only 6.67 minutes later!  The shortest duration spice.

Level 4 Spices - Chems

Booster Blue- +400 action, +400 quickness,  600s
The pistoleer's spice, great for using action specials.  I like using this when I'm using my smuggler specials with my high HAM cost launcher pistol - it works wonders.  I can use last ditch, lowblow, and panic shot easily.

Muon Gold - +500 mind, +500 focus, +500 willpower, 600s
By far the best selling, most used spice out there.  Very effective for mind using classes allowing you to use mind specials at will and regenerate mind quickly.  It's power is also it's downfall - if you are low on mind when the downer kicks in you'll incap and then not be able to get up.  This is the reason people have had bad experiences - the most powerful spices have the most powerful downers!  Be prepared!

Neutron Pixie - +1000 health, +200 strength, +200 Constitution, +500 action, +50 quickness, +50 stamina,  800s
The big one.  Massive bonuses to health and action and the longest duration spice until the incredible downer.  Neutron Pixie is not for the faint hearted.  Remember, the secondary stats are only buffed a little, so this spice mostly just adds (a lot) to your HAM.  This is great for solo battles, especially if you can't heal, but in general you WILL be incapped when the downer hits.  You may have over 1000 health, but any damage at all an you are dirtnapping.  Ensure you are someplace safe for the downer.  Again, this spice, along with Muon, is the reason people are so leery of spices - it will incap you everytime. The downer is horrific.

Known Bugs
I haven't experienced the bug that everyone is talking about on the Smuggler forums, but I wanted to mention it.  Evidentally, when you have been incapped by the downer, sometimes when you wake up your secondary stats will not restore to the proper values and may even go negative.  They say that they only appear this way on your character sheet - i.e. you really have your normal stats but they are displayed wrong.  So even if you have a negative willpower displayed you will still regen mind at the normal rate, etc...  Some say that eating some food will reset your stats, other say you have to clone or log off for awhile.  Like I said I've never experienced any of this.

Summary
Spices are your friend.  If used right they can be very useful.  The important thing to remember is that there are more spices than Muon and Neutron and that really all of them have a use.  Be creative and try some of them.  Know how they work and you will be better prepared. 

Finally, an advert
Snaproll is now selling almost all (soon to be all) of these spices on the LOWCA server.  I have a vendor in the trading post near Coronet and one at Snaproll's Slicing and Spicing near Moenia if you are on Naboo (5570 -3679).  I am also glad to do special orders - send an email to Snaproll.

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Snaproll
The Echelon
10-28-2003 11:44 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Kav
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Posts: 2885
Registered: 08-04-2003


Server: Bria


Well done!

Mind if I link this into the Smuggler FAQ instead of having redundancy?

 

 

Kav::Master Smuggler::Account Canceled::
Kav's Smuggler Vision 2.5
"Credibility is like virginity, you can only lose it once."
>Solo4114: Let me know when the Jedi are extinct again.

10-28-2003 01:47 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Snaproll
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Posts: 172
Registered: 08-19-2003


PA: The Echelon
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That would be great!  Thanks!

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10-28-2003 04:59 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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EnigmaAB
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Server: Chilastra


Correction, all downers last exactly 1/3 of the upper time. In the case of muon, this is 200 seconds while for pixie, it is 266 seconds.



Shala Darkdust

10-28-2003 05:26 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Master_Valis
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Posts: 38
Registered: 08-07-2003



Now we just need someone to post the various foods that increase stats that spices wack out becasue of their buggieness....
10-28-2003 06:12 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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PyodeAmedha
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Posts: 188
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PA: Knights of the Crimson Sands
Server: Wanderhome


Ehm. I think that foods are actually the cause of ppl's buggy secondary stats. When taking several bites of the same food I have noticed that only the first bite increase my actual stat. Then consecutive bytes just increase the max stat. BUT when the effect wears off both stats are REDUCED by the no. off bites you have taken and thus your secondary stats are permanently lowered. I have NEVER experienced this when using spice alone.

--
Leander Stargazer, Wanderhome.
Stargazers Spices and Stuff.
Vendor is located in the City of Solace on Dantooine. Just go down Beale street and it will be on your left.
Waypoint: 4738 -2907

10-29-2003 12:29 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Yetimann
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PA: MAW Industries (Miners and Warriors, 4660 -3545 on Naboo)
Server: Intrepid


I think the food bug is correct I noticed it when eating foraged goods on my server

Otica (the wookie with the most)
"YES, I AM a yeti, and I AM from Yavin 4"

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Intrepid

10-29-2003 07:26 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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SatansCircus
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Posts: 2135
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PA: RAID
Server: Naritus


I noticed you said spices stack with other buffs.  They used to but after the last patch nothing stacks with anything.  I know first hand I've used doctor buffs and tried to stack spice and that will screw up your stats like crazy.  My girlfriend is a master chef and she told me nothing stacks anymore.

I've been able to use booster blue without getting my stats bugged, but pixie does it to me everytime and eating eating food no longer fixes the secondary stats like it used to.

*** sig changed by moderator - inappropriate ***

10-29-2003 07:53 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Sylvandk
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Registered: 09-09-2003


PA: Divine Retribution
Server: Eclipse


that's a nice post Snaproll

° __________// ° Achila _//¯ ° Alide - Ad Astra Per Aspera ° Coronet Mall ° 887 -4684 ° //___________// //¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ °
.
c",)
,(_)'
-"-

(°. Elysium )

10-29-2003 08:20 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Nurofen
Pilot
Posts: 453
Registered: 10-20-2003



Great post
10-29-2003 08:45 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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realvorda
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very nice!!!

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Ihen Treygath -- Master Slave -- Eclipse

10-29-2003 09:17 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Master_Valis
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Posts: 38
Registered: 08-07-2003



I don't know are you guys saying that if you eat say some Pixie, your stats don't stay at the downer value gives the message that it has ended? ? ?

For me it does each and every time! I eat food to bring them above what they get stuck at... Booster Blue doen't seem to do this, but Pixie does for sure! Other spices mess you up as well.

It's not just in the viewing of the stat on the character sheet thing eiather, I mean when my con is all messed up because of this bug for instance - I really don't regen health as fast I do otherwise... it's a big difference. I've timed it, it's real - for me at least.

Certain Chef foods are susposed to do this too, but I haven't found many chef food out there - foraged food items seem to work fine however - as do the food items I've tried from the Domestic Art's line.

And again if you raise your stat back up via some sort of working food buff then once the food wears off your back at your normal level again - for me it's that or log for 10 mins.
This is the real reason spices don't sell...

This is a good list however! Will be a good ref and hopefully up spice sales if they fix the bugs with them or people understand that some foods compenstates for this. Hell those food buffs are so short I just use them to recover from the better spice buffs anyway - so it all works out.

I still do wish I had a list of foods available that up certain stats to compensate for above mentioned bug - as I find them I will post them here - since this bug effects more people then me - search this very forum and you will see...
Unless of course no one cares heh!
10-29-2003 10:42 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Miniro
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Posts: 11
Registered: 10-12-2003



Thanks for all the positive comments guys!  And thanks also for pointing out inaccuracies.

I agree that stacking buffs is probably not a good idea.  I don't really use many buffs other than my spices, so I don't have much experience with the bugs, but until they fix it (which I hope they do soon),  I probably wouldn't screw around with it too much.

The duration comment is very interesting!  I had always assumed it was 2 minutes - thats what the FAQ says and all the otther smugglers I've asked all say that, but now I'll test it to make sure!

Also, for those who don't know, a fellow smuggler in my guild made a very helpful comment on planning for spice downers.  There is a command you can use to set a timer to warn you before your downer hits.  I'm sure this has probably been mentioned on the boards, but an example for Muon is:

/alarmAddIn 0 8 Spice downer in 2 minutes!;
/alarmAddIn 0 9 Spice downer in 1 minute!;

The format for this command is : /alarmAddIn Hours Minutes Message;

Setting up a macro for this will help out a lot.

10-29-2003 10:43 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Master_Valis
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I don't know are you guys saying that if you eat say some Pixie, your stats don't stay at the downer value gives the message that it has ended? ? ?


Should read

I don't know are you guys saying that if you eat say some Pixie, your stats don't stay at the downer value AFTER YOU GET the message that it has ended? ? ?
10-29-2003 10:44 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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EnigmaAB
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Server: Chilastra




Miniro wrote:

The duration comment is very interesting!  I had always assumed it was 2 minutes - thats what the FAQ says and all the otther smugglers I've asked all say that, but now I'll test it to make sure!






I had thought the 2 minutes mentioned in many places did not seem right so that's why I did test it and came up with the 1/3 thing. I tested 1-2 spices from each skill level and timed the downer. In all cases, it was 1/3 the time of the upper.



Shala Darkdust

10-29-2003 11:11 AM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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jagcruzader
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Hi I do not have access to my game at the moment (work), can someone please tell me the resources required for Muon Gold & For Neutron Pixie ?

Eezi Onda'ai
Desperately Seeking Sensitivity

10-29-2003 04:09 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Kav
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jagcruzader wrote:
Hi I do not have access to my game at the moment (work), can someone please tell me the resources required for Muon Gold & For Neutron Pixie ?

 

  • Pixie:
    • 15 Mineral
    • 15 Gem
    • 15 Fruit

 

  • Muon Gold:
    • 15 Water
    • 15 Rad
    • 15 Metal

Kav::Master Smuggler::Account Canceled::
Kav's Smuggler Vision 2.5
"Credibility is like virginity, you can only lose it once."
>Solo4114: Let me know when the Jedi are extinct again.

10-29-2003 05:15 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Kav
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Server: Bria


On the subject of Pixie downer, just tested it.  It did indeed last for 4min 30sec, =.3 of the 800min upper. 

Good catch Enigma.  /sal

 

Kav::Master Smuggler::Account Canceled::
Kav's Smuggler Vision 2.5
"Credibility is like virginity, you can only lose it once."
>Solo4114: Let me know when the Jedi are extinct again.

10-29-2003 05:34 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Kav
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oh and just a neat thing, i did incap but my stats came back to normal after the downer, yaaay.

THe only ything diffrent from when i got my stats perema locked by it last timer is I currently have no main 3 (HAM) wounds... /shrug

 

Kav::Master Smuggler::Account Canceled::
Kav's Smuggler Vision 2.5
"Credibility is like virginity, you can only lose it once."
>Solo4114: Let me know when the Jedi are extinct again.

10-29-2003 05:36 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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jagcruzader
Pilot
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thanks

Eezi Onda'ai
Desperately Seeking Sensitivity

10-29-2003 05:46 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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eman7h
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Registered: 09-17-2003


PA: Search n Destroy
Server: Eclipse


*claps for snaproll*

Your guide was very informative.


Morhea Jakri | Eclipse
Mayor Of Baulder Dash, Tatooine
Shipwright

10-29-2003 06:44 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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bpphantom
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Posts: 1098
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PA: Last Member of Visigoth
Server: Lowca


Fantastic guide.

Aside from the already mentioned 1/3 downer time it looks great.

I just sent my home account the link so I can print it there for in game reference.

---
Imperial Colonel Istovyr Ousstyl - Lone Survivor of Gothica City - Rori - Lowca
Master Smuggler; Pistoleer 4424; Scout 4000; Marksman 0400; Brawler 4000; Novice TKA - Holos: Pistoleer (done), Artisan (done), Musician... screw that.

10-30-2003 12:49 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Slytung
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PA: The Echelon
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Gratz on the sticky Snap!!

Again very nice.

Ku'ahdi Syda

Chef Ku's Kitchen
Located in Serenity, Naboo(2916,-5492)

Proud member of The Echelon Gaming Guild

10-31-2003 04:44 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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Isyndell
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PA: Imp Security Bureau
Server: Valcyn


one thing noone has seemed to mention is how much they think is a reasonable way to work out pricing

I have just started selling booster blue on my server as a trial run, and 500 creds each seems to fit the bill nicely for that, but apart from that I have yet to find a reasonable price for the other spices

- Isyndell Tir'end Imperial Shock Trooper, Valcyn Universe. "Why on earth would anyone NOT kill a jawa?..." "...All of you know at some point in time you have seen them eyeballing your speeder or your heavy ber 13 harvesters,i think its just crime prevention." -- Ekahab Shotgunnis

11-04-2003 08:07 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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DarthMinos
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Server: Ahazi


Great guide.  Very informative.

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Rieke--Zabrak Gunslinger - TKM - Smuggler on Ahazi
Trowbacca--Wookie Rifleman on Lowca

"I find your lack of faith disturbing." ~~Vader~~

xx

11-12-2003 07:26 PM   Report Abuse to a Moderator
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